25 years since EXPO

28 April 2013 , 9:17 AM by Rob Minshull

It was about 40 hectares of disused railyards, light industry, residential units and abandoned warehouses.

It was situated on the southern bank of the Brisbane River - the place we now know as South Bank and which the ABC calls home - and it was the site of World Expo 88, the largest single event commemorating the Bicentenary.

Expo 88 lasted six months from April to October, it cost about $620 million and attracted more than 50 government participants, including 36 nations, 14 state and regional level governments and two multi-lateral organisations: the United Nations and the European Community.

It also attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors and anyone who was there will tell you: Expo 88 was not only a fantastic event, it marked Brisbane's coming-of-age.

Brisbane City Council and the Queensland State Government are hosting a massive event on South Bank today to commemorate the 25th anniversary of EXPO 88.

It is going to be a huge trip down memory lane with 80s-style entertainment and musc, street performers and all the other events which made the 1988 World Fair such a success.

A plaque will also be unveiled to acknowledge all the people who contributed to EXPO 88 and to pay tribute to Sir Llew Edwards, who was of course Chairman of World Expo 88.